Rural Economy Task Group

Rural Economy Task Group

Vision

To play an effective part in a growing and sustainable rural economy for Hampshire in a way that reflects the diversity of the county, meets the needs of rural communities and protects the region’s unique landscape

Aims and Objectives

  • Actively support the continued development of a thriving rural economy.
  • Adopt a business led approach towards identifying, prioritising and addressing specific local and sector issues.
  • Provide a forum that aims to effectively influence public and private sector support.
  • Work with others to achieve targeted improvements to the rural economy.
  • Promote mechanisms that will increase the ability of the rural economy to meet current and future market opportunities.
  • Help in attracting investment that will enhance the area’s existing economy.
  • Influence support for European, national, regional and local government policy.

Areas of Focus

  • Assess impact and positively influence implementation of the CAP.
  • Actively promote essential rural skills training programmes.
  • Organise seminars to enable effective consultation on the key issues.
  • Lead the Hampshire Market Towns Project.
  • Support developments for broadband access in rural communities.
  • Support development of a Local Food Centre.
  • Campaign for public sector procurement of local food.
  • Encourage initiatives to support increased local food consumption.
  • Promote Hampshire Farmers’ Markets.
  • Encourage initiatives that will increase the effectiveness of business support in rural areas.
  • Promote initiatives that develop public knowledge, undertaking and use of the countryside.

Membership

The Rural Economy Task Group aims to provide an inclusive and non-competitive forum for the wide range of organisations who share the identified common purpose of promoting economic prosperity for the rural economy of Hampshire.